1. Further Education and Skills in England
New Qualifications for Teachers and Trainers
Proposal response form
Please use this form to provide feedback on the proposals found in your proposal
document.
We recognise that some proposals may not be of interest to all respondents or you may not feel you have
sufficient expertise. For such proposals, please respond 'don’t know' rather than skip the proposal altogether.
Name: Narinder Uppal
E-mail address: Narinder.uppal@managers.org.uk
Organisation: Chartered Management Institute
Please tick one box only below to indicate type of organisation:
Awarding Organisation √ Independent training provider
Further Education College Sector skills council / Standards setting
organisation
Higher education institution Provider in the third sector
Local Authority Other (please specify)
Which of the following best describes your job role? Please tick below
An employer of teachers and trainers
A deliverer of initial teacher education programmes (generic)
A deliverer of initial teacher education programmes
(English/ESOL, mathematics, disabled learner)
A vocational teacher or a trainer
A teacher or trainer of English/ESOL
A teacher or trainer of mathematics
A teacher or trainer of disabled learners
Event date and venue:
Are you responding on behalf of the organisation you work for or as an individual
practitioner?
2. On behalf of the organisation √ As an individual practitioner
What is the size of your organisation’s workforce?
Less than 10 10 - 49
50 – 249 √ 250 +
Simplifying the current qualification offer
Qualifications
Proposal 1.1 A single qualification at each level and of increasing size should be
developed
The proposed generic qualifications include a Level 3 Award (12 credits), a Level 4 Certificate (30 credits)
and a Level 5 Diploma (60 credits). Each qualification will allow for direct entry without completing any
previous qualification. The content, size and level of the qualification will also encourage progression from
one to another for those who wish to build up their initial training over time, perhaps as teaching or training
responsibilities increase. Proposed subject-specific qualifications only offer qualifications at Level 5. These
will vary in size depending on purpose – whether for initial training or continuing professional development.
Strongly agree Agree Neither agree Disagree Strongly Don’t know
nor disagree disagree
√
Comments and suggestions:
We agree that simplification of the offering would be beneficial, to both learners and employers. In addition,
CMI would add these qualifications to the Approved Qualification List for deliverers or tutor delivering CMI
qualifications in our FE approved centres around the UK.
As well as developing teaching skills, CMI believes that these qualifications should allow individuals to
develop their management and leadership at each level, so that as teachers and trainers progress in their
career, their management and leadership skills are also appropriately developed. This will enable them to be
prepared to develop their management and leadership skills throughout their career, whether or not they
are in a management or leadership role.
It would also allow them to take on management and leadership roles with the professional skills to carry
out these important responsibilities, rather than waiting to be promoted to a management position, and
then receiving management and leadership training.
Proposal 1.2 The qualifications should be flexible enough to enable a focus on particular
learning contexts
The qualifications should reflect the diversity of practice across the further education and skills sector.
Common learning outcomes in qualifications from all awarding institutions will include reference to context.
Units from the Learning and Development qualifications, including those for assessing and the quality
assurance of assessment will be available in the QCF qualifications. Although not formally part of the review
of qualifications, LSIS will facilitate working groups to consider delivery, assessment and recognition of prior
learning in teacher education programmes.
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3. Strongly agree Agree Neither agree Disagree Strongly Don’t know
nor disagree disagree
√
Comments and suggestions:
CMI supports this approach.
Proposal 1.3 Separate qualifications that are not 'nested' should be developed
The current teaching and training qualifications are ‘nested’ inside one another. For example, the PTLLS
units are found within the CTLLS and DTLLS qualifications. The qualifications were developed in this way to
support and encourage progression but, in practice, raised expectations that were sometimes not realised
due to difficulties in credit recognition and transfer, and often led to repetition of content. The proposed
qualifications will have a defined purpose to meet a range of teaching and training responsibilities. This will
reduce repetition for those who choose to move from one qualification to another.
Strongly agree Agree Neither agree Disagree Strongly Don’t know
nor disagree disagree
√
Comments and suggestions:
New Qualifications for Teachers and Trainers: Review Response Form Page 3 of 12
4. Standards
Proposal 1.4 The professional standards should be reviewed
The New Overarching Professional Standards for Teachers, Tutors and Trainers in the Lifelong Learning Sector
were published in December 2006. They describe the practice expected of teachers and trainers across the
further education and skills sector. The standards also underpin professional development, including initial
and continuing professional development qualifications. A review of the standards would ensure they
continue to describe current expectation of practice and would consider how they could be simplified to
better support professional practice.
Strongly agree Agree Neither agree Disagree Strongly Don’t know
nor disagree disagree
√
Comments and suggestions:
This is stating that the NOS for teaching were last reviewed in 2006 and do we support a review of it.
Please add any observations you would like to make on our approach to developing the
new qualifications:
In your consolidation process we recommend that you include other awarding bodies as the qualifications
will affect them in terms of the standards of delivery of their own qualifications.
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5. Generic teaching qualifications
Level 3 Award
Proposal 2.1 A Level 3 Award in Education and Training should be developed
The proposed Award will provide an introduction to teaching and training. It will primarily be a knowledge-
based qualification with some assessment of micro-teaching. It will not assess competence, as there will be
no requirement to practice. It will be of value to those with little or no experience of teaching or training
and to those considering or wishing to teach or train in the sector.
Strongly agree Agree Neither agree Disagree Strongly Don’t know
nor disagree disagree
√
Comments and suggestions:
Proposal 2.2 The proposed content and size of the Level 3 Award in Education and
Training is appropriate
The Award will develop knowledge and skills related to planning, delivery, assessment and the evaluation of
inclusive teaching and learning with individuals and groups of learners. Relevant units from Learning and
Development qualifications will be included in the QCF qualifications. A credit value of twelve is proposed.
This reflects the appropriate amount of learning required for someone with little or no experience of
teaching or training. There was strong support for an increase in the credit value of PTLLS from six to twelve
in the 2011 review of the qualifications.
Strongly agree Agree Neither agree Disagree Strongly Don’t know
nor disagree disagree
√
Comments and suggestions:
Level 4 Certificate
Proposal 2.3 A Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training should be developed
The proposed Certificate will provide training for those with a broad range of teaching or training
responsibilities. The level reflects the underpinning knowledge and skills required for these responsibilities.
The qualification will be appropriate for those with some experience of teaching or training and the
potential to study at this level. There will be a requirement to practice as this qualification will assess and
provide evidence of competence in teaching and training.
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6. Strongly agree Agree Neither agree Disagree Strongly Don’t know
nor disagree disagree
√
Comments and suggestions:
Proposal 2.4 The proposed content and size of the Level 4 Certificate in Education and
Training is appropriate
The Certificate will develop knowledge and skills related to planning, delivery, assessment and the
evaluation of inclusive teaching and learning with individuals and groups of learners. There will be a focus
on subject and vocational knowledge and its application to teaching and training. The qualification could
recognise teacher and trainer related roles such as assessing or engaging employers. We propose that half
the qualification is made up of optional units to develop relevant knowledge and skills, primarily from the
Learning and Development qualifications.
Strongly agree Agree Neither agree Disagree Strongly Don’t know
nor disagree disagree
√
Comments and suggestions:
Level 5 Diploma
Proposal 2.5 A Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training should be developed
The proposed Diploma will provide training for those with an extensive range of teaching or training
responsibilities, including those in more than one context. The level reflects the knowledge and skills
required for this range of responsibilities. Level 5 is proposed, though the qualification may be developed at
higher levels. The qualification will be appropriate for those who are working in, or aspire to, this
professional challenge and who have the potential to study at this level. There is a significant practice
requirement as this qualification will assess and provide evidence of competence in undertaking these
responsibilities. This Diploma qualification in the QCF will be recognised as equivalent to the Certificate of
Education qualifications in the FHEQ.
Strongly agree Agree Neither agree Disagree Strongly Don’t know
nor disagree disagree
√
New Qualifications for Teachers and Trainers: Review Response Form Page 6 of 12
7. Comments and suggestions:
Proposal 2.6 The proposed content and size of the Level 5 Diploma in Education and
Training is appropriate
The Diploma will develop knowledge and skills related to a broad range of professional practice in teaching
and training. There will be an extended focus on subject and vocational knowledge and its application to
teaching and training. A credit value of sixty is proposed. At sixty credits, there would be little or no optional
credit with the focus on core knowledge and skills. This would ensure that coverage of core knowledge and
skills would remain broadly comparable with previous Diplomas and could contribute to gaining any future
professional status.
Strongly agree Agree Neither agree Disagree Strongly Don’t know
nor disagree disagree
√
Comments and suggestions:
See also below.
Level 7 Diplomas
Proposal 2.7 A Level 7 Diploma in Education and Training should be developed
The proposed Level 7 Diploma will be developed from the Level 5 specification but will be designed to meet
the needs of those teachers and trainers at the FE/HE interface. This is a very broad group of staff. The
qualification would lead to recognition as a fellow of the Higher Education Academy. As with all Diplomas
developed at Level 7, it could contribute to a Masters qualification.
Strongly agree Agree Neither agree Disagree Strongly Don’t know
nor disagree disagree
√
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8. Comments and suggestions:
We agree with the principle that an advanced qualification should be developed for learners to progress on
to from the Level 5 Diploma. However, we believe it would also be beneficial to consider the development
of a qualification below Level 7 for those at the FE/HE interface. In reality, there may be a relatively large
(and growing) number of people who are in a FE/HE context and who might wish to study for a
qualification, but at a level lower than Level 7. It would also be beneficial to introduce learners to issues
which arise in the FE/HE interface, before they are ready to progress to Level 7. In the future it seems likely
that there will be more integration between the worlds of FE and HE, and LSIS therefore needs to “future
proof” its qualifications and provide progression routes across the levels.
We therefore recommend that appropriate content is developed as part of the Level 5 qualification for
those at the FE/HE interface, and that the Level 7 qualification content builds on this, both in terms of
stretching the learner and reflecting their more advanced practical experience. This would differentiate the
skills needed within FE and HE, allowing a more coherent pathway between the levels supporting their
progression.
Proposal 2.8 A Diploma qualification for Continuing Professional Development at Level 7
should be developed
A recommendation in Lord Lingfield’s interim report was for the introduction of a Diploma qualification at
Level 7, ‘to help form the capabilities of those who aspire to the highest professional levels in FE’. This
qualification would develop advanced practice and skills in leadership of learning and teaching. This
proposal seeks to identify the level of support for such a qualification. It is agreed that development of such
a qualification would need to be on a longer time frame than the current review.
Strongly agree Agree Neither agree Disagree Strongly Don’t know
nor disagree disagree
√
Comments and suggestions:
In addition to the CPD elements of this proposed qualification, it is likely that those professionals operating
at the highest levels of FE, will also be taking an active leadership role in their institutions and will be
responsible for both the management and development of their colleagues. This will involve many skills
which need to be developed alongside excellent teaching skills, eg. management and development of staff,
self-managagement and organisational skills, collaborative working skills (eg. partnering with other learning
institutions, local employers, etc), and financial planning and management.
In addition to offering appropriate learning units at levels 3-5, CMI would be pleased to offer the potential
to share our Level 7 Management and Leadership units for this qualification. We believe that embedding
management and leadership units into this qualification would help give it professional credence, and
would allow those holding the qualification to demonstrate their management and leadership skills, based
on learning materials from the only Chartered professional body for management and leadership, as well as
their sectoral knowledge and experience.
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9. Qualifications for teaching English, ESOL, mathematics and disabled
learners
Integrated qualifications
Proposal 3.1 Level 5 Diplomas in Education and Training in English, ESOL, mathematics
and for disabled learners should be developed
These qualifications will provide initial teacher training in a specialism as an alternative to a generic
programme. Five qualifications are proposed to provide training for an extensive range of teaching or
training responsibilities. The level reflects that established in the sector for teaching or training in these
specialisms. The qualifications will be appropriate for those who are working in, or aspire to, this role and
who have the potential to work at this level. There will be a practice requirement as these qualifications will
assess and provide evidence of competence in teaching these specialisms.
Strongly agree Agree Neither agree Disagree Strongly Don’t know
nor disagree disagree
√
Comments and suggestions:
Proposal 3.2 The proposed content and size of Level 5 Diplomas in Education and Training
in English, ESOL, mathematics and for disabled learners is appropriate
These qualifications have been developed to mirror the generic qualification and to have a focus on
practical teaching. Subject knowledge for English, ESOL and mathematics will be gained through
undertaking the literacy/language or numeracy learning diplomas. The skills content will be drawn from the
relevant application of standards guidance documents. The knowledge and skills for teaching disabled
learners will be drawn from the related guidance document. The same credit value as the generic
qualifications is proposed – sixty credits.
Strongly agree Agree Neither agree Disagree Strongly Don’t know
nor disagree disagree
√
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10. Comments and suggestions:
Subject specialist knowledge qualifications
Proposal 3.3 A Level 5 Certificate in Literacy and Language Learning and a Level 5
Certificate in Numeracy Learning should be developed
These two qualifications will provide an opportunity to develop knowledge and understanding in their
respective subjects. The majority of teachers/trainers in further education bring subject knowledge and skills
that they can apply when undertaking initial teacher education programmes. These qualifications will
provide an accredited route to developing the appropriate subject knowledge which can be applied when
undertaking initial teacher education programmes for English and mathematics. The level of the
qualification reflects the demand of current qualifications.
Strongly agree Agree Neither agree Disagree Strongly Don’t know
nor disagree disagree
√
Comments and suggestions:
Proposal 3.4 The proposed content and size of the Level 5 Certificate in Literacy and
Language Learning and the Level 5 Certificate in Numeracy Learning is
appropriate
The content for these Diploma qualifications will be drawn from the relevant guidance documents used to
underpin all subject qualifications related to English and mathematics. The credit value of the qualifications
would be determined during the development phase in January. A credit value of thirty is suggested at this
time. We wish to explore whether the credit value for each subject would need to be the same.
Strongly agree Agree Neither agree Disagree Strongly Don’t know
nor disagree disagree
√
New Qualifications for Teachers and Trainers: Review Response Form Page 10 of 12
11. Comments and suggestions:
Stand-alone qualifications
Proposal 3.5 Level 5 Diplomas in Teaching English, ESOL, mathematics and disabled
learners should be developed
These qualifications will provide continuing professional development for those who already have a generic
teaching/training qualification. They will provide an opportunity to develop knowledge and skills for
teaching one of these areas of specialism.
Strongly agree Agree Neither agree Disagree Strongly Don’t know
nor disagree disagree
√
Comments and suggestions:
Proposal 3.6 The proposed content of the Level 5 Diplomas in Teaching English, ESOL,
mathematics and disabled learners is appropriate
The content of the Diplomas includes both knowledge and teaching skills. The content will be informed by
the related application of the standards guidance documents. Trainees will apply the practical teaching skills
they have already developed to a new area of specialism. A credit value of forty five reflects the fact that
trainees will already have a significant amount of teacher training and experience. The content and credit
value reflects current qualifications with this purpose.
Strongly agree Agree Neither agree Disagree Strongly Don’t know
nor disagree disagree
√
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12. Comments and suggestions:
Entry criteria
Proposal 3.7 Current entry criteria should remain a requirement to join a Level 5 Diploma
qualification programme in English, ESOL and mathematics
To be accepted on current initial teacher education programmes for literacy, numeracy or ESOL, potential
trainees have to evidence skills in English or mathematics at level 3 (QCF). It is proposed that the current
entry criteria will be retained and that the different ways to evidence these will continue.
Strongly agree Agree Neither agree Disagree Strongly Don’t know
nor disagree disagree
√
Comments and suggestions:
Please add any further observations you would like to make that would inform this review
of qualifications:
We strongly believe that the development of management and leadership skills amongst the teaching and
training community will allow individuals to improve their own performance, as well as that of their
employer organisations. CMI has published several research reports over the last couple of years, which
provide conclusive evidence of this. For example, our report, co-produced with Penna, “The Business Benefits
of Management and Leadership Development” (February 2011) found that management and leadership
development leads to a 23 per cent increase in organisational performance, and a 32 per cent increase in
people performance.
This strong evidence can be used by LSIS to promote management and leadership development amongst
the teaching and training profession, and to embed management and leadership development units into its
qualifications at all levels, as proposed above. In this way, individual teachers or trainers, as well as FE
institutions, will become more effective, to the benefit of all learners.
Please return this review response form to:
By post to: Abigail Miller, Learning and Skills Improvement Service
Friars House, Manor House Drive, Coventry CV1 2TE
Or
Thank you for taking part
By email to: fettq@lsis.org.uk
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